Printing-press



M. A. naoncoufi.

PRINTING PRESS.

- APPLiCATION FILED APE. H, 1917. RENEWED OCT. 23. 1 919. 1,356,051.

a l. b

M, A. DROITCOUR.

PRINTING PRESS. APPLICATION FILED APR. 11. 1917. RENEWED 0CT.23.1919.

1,356,051. Patented Oct. 19,1920.

7SHEETSSHEET 2.

M. A. DROITCOURQ PRINT ING PRESS APPLICATI ONIILED' APR. 1, 1917-RENEWED OCT. 23. 1919.

1,356,051. Patented Oct. 19,1920.

7SHEETSSHEET 3.

ISHEhTS -SHEE! 1.

Patented Oct. 19, 1920.

M A. DROITCOUR.

PRINTING PRESS.

. APPLICATION FILED APR. 11, 1917- RENEWED' OCT. 23.1919. 1,356,051,

M. A. DROITCOUR. gmmme mss'. APPLICATION FILED APR. 11'. I917. RENEWEDOCT. 23', I9

9 Paten ted Oct. 19,1920.

YSHEEIS-ISHEET 5.

"JNV NTUI M. A. DROITCOUR.

'PRINT|NG PRESS. APPLICATION FILED APR. H, 1917. RENEWED OCT. 23, 1919.1,356,051.

Patented Oct. 19, 1920.

I SHEE1S-SHEET 6.

El/2a INVEN'T'UH MM? MW IM.IA.'DROITCOUR.

PRINTING PRESS.

RENEWED-OCT. 23.'1919.

I APPLICATION-FILED APR. 11, 1917. 1,356,051,

Patented' 005. 19,1920.

rsHEEls-sHhET 7.

INVENT DE.

PATENT OFFICE.

' MICHAEL A. DROITCOUR, OF DELPHOS, OHIO. I

PRINTING-PRESS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 19, 1920.

. Application filed April 11, 1917, Serial No; 161,338- Renewed October23, 1519. Serial No. 332,852.

To all'whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, MICHAEL A. DROIT- COUR, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Delphos, in the county of Allen, and State ofOhio, have invented a certain new and useful Printing-Press; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to apparatus in which a reciprocally movable bedor member is employed, and particularly to improved means forreciprocating the type-beds of printing presses of the flat-bed andcylindrical type.

The primary object of my invention is to provide novel'means for drivinga printing press bed and reversing its movements at the end of eachstroke, the reversing being accomplished in an efficient and rapidmanner without jar or shock, thus enabling the press to be run at a veryhigh speed without liability of racking. the same.

Further objects and advantages of the in vention will be apparent fromthe following detailed description thereof.

Vhile the invention, in its broader aspect, is capable of embodiment innumerous forms, a preferred embodiment thereof is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings in which,-

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a press embodying my invention, withparts broken away. Figs. 2 and 3 are different fragmentary detailedviews of the impression control means, with parts in section on the line3-3 in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the press, with the cylinderand bed removed, with a part broken away, and with a portion of thevibrating inking rolls in'position.-

Fig. 5 is a section on the line ,55 in Fig. 1. Fig.6 is a section on theline 6-6 in Fig. 5, with parts removed and parts broken away. Fig.7 isan enlarged perspective View ofla part of the impression controlmeans.Figs. 8 and 9 are enlarged sections on the line 8 8 in Fig. 5. Fig. 10 afragmentary perspective view of one side portion of the press, withparts removed.' Flg. 11 -15 a fragmentary perspectiveview of one of theslide frames, with aportion of the rollers removed. Fig. 12 is a sideelevation of the rotary reciprocatory bed driving shaft, with the partscarried thereby in section. Fig.

13 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the bedreversingmechamsm. -;Figs. 14, 15, 16 and 17 are conventional s1de viewsof the bed and cylinder driving mechanism at different points in acycle-of operations with parts broken away, i and Fig. 18 is a sectionon the line 18-18 in F ilg. 1. v

eferring to the drawings, 1 designates the press frame, of any suitableconstruction, and 2 the customary bed, which is 'mounted forreciprocatory movements under a fly-wheel 5, a broad pinion 6, and anarrow pinion 7 without one side of the frame,

the pinions 6 and 7 being spaced apart to permit the positioning of agear therebetween. The pinion 6 meshes with and drives a pinion 8, whichis loosely mounted for both rotary and axial sliding movements on asubjacent stub-shaft 9 (Fig. 18). A pinion 10 which is slightly smallerthan the pinion 8, is fixed to said pinion atits inner side to haverotation and axial movements therewith. A broad pinion 11, which is thesame size as the pinion 10, is mounted on the shaft 9 at the inner sideof the pinion 10 for free rotary and axial movements. yoke 12 embracesthe set of gears 8, 10 and 11, and is operable, as hereinafterdescribed, to control the axial shifting movements thereof.

A shaft 13 (Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 12) is journaled transversely in the frame1 at one side of the drive shaft 4 and substantially central of thereciprocatorymovements of the bed 2. A pair of gears 14 are keyed to theshaft 13 and are in constant mesh with respective racks 15 (Fig. 5) onthe under side of the bed, longitudinally thereof. The two slide: frames'16, which carry rollers 17 between the frame runners '18 and bed 2, are

the gears 14 meshing with the racks 15 and these gears and racks aredisposed on opposite sides of and equidistant from-the centrallongitudinal line of the bed so that the bed is driven forward orbackward without any lateral twisting movement or strain such as arecaused when only one gear and rack are used under the bed and such rackis at one side of the longitudinal center of the bed. The pinions 14remain in mesh with the racks 15 at all times but are only operativelycontrolling the bed during the uni form portions of its stroke, the bedbeing reversed at the end of its stroke by the mechanism hereinafterexplained. By employing a pair of bed driving racks and pinions atopposite sides of the center of the bed, as described, I am enabled toarrange the reverse racks 34 and reverse lever 33 in the plane of thecentral line of the bed; and with this construction the bed is alwayscent-rally driven, and centrally reversed, or balanced, and has notendency to twist or become laterally displaced during any portion ofits stroke.

Lateral twisting movements of the bed are also caused by the impressionof the form being heavy on one side of bed and light on the other, themake-ready of course being sometimes heavier or thicker on one side thanon the other which would tend to twist the bed; but, because of thearrangement of two tracks and two gears, the bed has a parallel movementregardless of impression strains and the reversing movements beingcentralized are not affected by the unequal impressionpressures as noprinting occurs while the bed is being reversed.

The shaft 13 has the end thereof adjacent to the stub-shaft 9 projectedwithout the frame 1 and carrying a loose gear 21 and a fixed gap-gear22, said gears being of equal size and disposed in close relation and,adapted to simultaneously mesh with the broad pinion 11 on thestub-shaft 9 during a pre determined portion of a cycle of operations.The pinion 11 remains in permanent mesh with the gear 21 and isshiftable into and out of mesh with the gear 22 during the bed reversingperiods. The pinion 7 on the drive shaft 4 is also in permanent drivingconnection with the gear 21, thus causing a continuous driving of saidgear at a uniform speed in one direction during a running of the press.

The drive-shaft 4 carries a pinion 23 (Figs. 4 and.5) near thetransverse center of the press, which pinion meshes with and drives acrank-gear 24, which is mounted on a shaft that is journaledtransversely in one side portion of the frame 1 adjacent to one endthereof. The gear 24 has the crank-pin 26 carrying a block 27 (Fig. 13)mounted for vertical 'reciprocatory movements in a vertical guideportion of a reversing slide or cross-head 28, which is vided with asegment 32 in mesh with the reverse rack 30 and has its upper armprovided with a segment 33 for meshing with a short bed-reverse rack 34at the adjacent end of the bed 2 during the reversing movement of thebed, one of said racks 34 beinglocated at each end of the bed. The armof the lever 31 which meshes with the reverse rack 30 is longer thanthearm of such lever which meshes with the bed reverse rack 34, thusenabling the distance between the center of the crank-pin 26 and itsaxis of revolution to be greater than would otherwise be the case. Thebed reversing action ofthe reversing mechanism is very much facilitatedby providing the crank pin of such mechanism with a longer throw thanthe radius of the bed rack engaging segment 33, it beingv found in'practice that with this mechanism the speed of running of the press(especially if large) can be very materially increased over the speed atwhich it could be safely run with a reversing mechanism provided with acrank throw which is equal to the radius of the bed reversing segment33. In the present press the crank has an 8 inch radius, the reverserack segment 32 has a 12inch radius, and the bed-reverse rack segment 33has a 9 inch radius. The crank-gear 24 is geared to have threerevolutions for each cycle of operations of the press or for each singlerevolution of the impression cylinder, one revolution of the crank geartaking place at each impression and return stroke of the bed and a halfrevolution of such gear taking place at each reverse stroke.

It will be noted that with my reversing mechanism the movements of thereverse rack 30 are always reverse to the movements of the bed during areversing period. This is an important feature as a balancing action ofthe bed is thereby obtained and vibration of the press practicallyeliminated.

In order to prevent wrenching and binding of the reverse slide 28 on theguide rods 29 when power is applied to said slide at one side or theother of its center. the slide is provided with a vertical shaft35,which is slide; and the twisting or torsional strains which areordinarily exerted on the slide by the block 27, especially near theends of its strokes in the grooves in the slide 28, are overcome andequalized throughout the length of the slide by means of the shaft 35,gears 36 and racks 37, whichinsure 'a smooth movement of'the bed overcenters and dur ing the reverse, which is quite important in effectingfine printing, as otherwise some slight vibration is apt to bestarted-during thereverse'by the pressure of the block at the ends ofthe slot in the slide, which vibration would continue, momentarily atleast, and cause inferior printing.

A shaft 38 is ournaled in the frame 1 transversely thereof and carries acam wheel 39, which is provided in one side with a camway for receiv ina roll 40 that-is. carried by a rack-ban41. of the frame and has oneend.

forkedandjstraddling the shaft 38 (Figs.

his rack-bar extends longitudinally I f1, 4, and 5),;whereby such bar issupported .oneendby the shaft while the otherend of said bar rests onand is guided for movewith rack teeth in mesh with a gear segment43-which is carried-for horizontal oscillatory movements by saidbracket. The segment '43 also meshes with the inner end of a rack-bar 44which projects inward from and forms a part of the gear. shifting yoke12 and has its movements ina plane at right angles to the plane ofmovements of the bar 41. It is evident that the bar 41 is periodicallymoved forward and backward by the cam 39 and that its movements arecommunicated to the gear shifting frame 12 through the gear segment 43.

The journals 45 of the cylinder 3 are carried by, bearing blocks 46(Figs. 8 and '9), which are mounted in vertical guideways in the frame 1for vertical rt fiproc atory movements. The blocks 46 are yieldinglysupported by coiled compression springs .47, which normally act tosupport the cylinder in raised position with respect to the bed. Eachblock 46 has a short rockshaft'48 mounted on the top, thereof, beingpartially seated in a depression provided therefor in the top of theblock. The top side of the rockshaft 48 is recessed longitudinallythereof to form a seat for the lower end of an impression knuckle 49,which rests for pivotal. rocking movements onsaid rocksha'ft and'has,its upper end to the rock-shaft 48, the journal block 46' islowered'against the tension of the springs 47-to"eifect' a" lowering ofthe cylinder to impressionposition, and when the shaft 48 is rockedslightly in'one direction or the seating against the under side of-athrust block in pivotal 8 and9),.'

engagemen't therewith hen the knuckle 49 isin vertical position or inradial relation other the inner end of the knuckle 49 is swunglaterally, thereby shortening the dis.- tance between the shaft 48 andthrustblock 50 and permitting a raising of the cylinder from impressionposition. The shaft 48 and knuckle 49 act in the manner of a toggle. Thethrust-block 50 is mounted in a head-piece 51 of the frame and isadjusted by means of a screw 52; The ends of the knuckle. 49' areprovided with trunnions which project into. recesses. in the flangesprovided at the opposite end porpai ons zof the rock shaft, as bestshown in ach rock shaft 48 .has a crank arm 53 projecting laterallytherefrom and connect .ed by a link 54 to a subjacent rocker arm frame 1transversely thereof 1,. 2 and 3). The shaft 56 is provided at one endthereof without the frame 1 with a loose rocker arm 57, which isupwardly directed and carries at its free end a roller 58, which Itravels in acam-groove 59 in the side of a ments by" a frame bracket 42and is provided gear wheel 60 that is mounted on the' outer adjacent endof the shafti38. The gear wheel 60 is continuously driven by a pinion61,.that is fixed'to the continuously driven loose gear 21, the ratio'ofthe gears being such as to cause the gear 60 to make'one revolution toeach two revolutions of the cylinderB, which is driven by the gear 21gether for unitary movements in the man-.

ner of a bell-crank lever. It is thus evident that during an impressionstroke of the bed the cylinder is held in lowered position by reason ofthe roller 58 traveling in the --outer neutral portion of the cam-way59, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and that said "roller when traveling inthe remaining portion of the cam-way permits the cylinder toj'move toand remainiin impression released position.

An impression trip lever66.(Figs. 2 and 3), is pivoted to'the side ofthe frame 1, at which the catch 64 is disposed, and has a fingerf67pivotally projectingfupward from the outer end of its free arm andcarrying a roller 681 This roller isyi'eld ingly held in rollingfcontact'with a cam surface 69 at the upper'i'nner side edgeof thecatch'64 by a spring 70,-and upon a depression oftlie outer end of thelever66 theroller '68 is Caused to travel up the can surface 69 andapproach the periphery of the cam-wheel 60, and to stand in position fora cam-block 71 on the peripheral portion of the wheel 60 to strike saidroller and communicate a trip movement through it to the catch 64 tothrow it outward from engagement with the catch-stud 65. This trip canonly take place when the roller 58 is in the inwardly retracted portionof the camway 59, as is apparent by reason of the position of the partsin Figs. 2 and 3, and the cam-plate 71 is positioned to effect atripping of the catch 64 shortly before the entrance of the roller 58into the outer neutral portion of the cam-way 59. It is evident thatwhenthe catch 64 is released from the catch lug 65 the rocker arm 57 is.permitted to have free rocking movements relative to the shaft 56 androcker arm 55.

The normal inactive position of the roller 68 with the trip lever raisedis shown in Figs. 2 and 8, and a depression of the trip lever from thisposition with the parts in the positions shown in Fig. 2 will cause asufiicient movement of the roller 68 by the cam surface 69 to place saidroller in position to be engaged and moved outward by the block 71 asufiicient distance to disengage the catch 64 from the lug 65.

A cam-wheel 72 is fixed to the shaft 13 adjacent to the end thereofopposed to that carrying the gears 21 and 22, and has a camway-73 in oneside thereof (Fig. 10) in which a roller at the end of a rocker arm 74travels. F iXed to the shaft 75 with this rocker arm, which shaft isjournaled in one side of the frame 1, is a gear segment 76 in mesh witha rack-bar 77, which is mounted for longi tudinal movements lengthwiseof the frame at one side thereof. The bar 77 is provided:

on its outer side adjacent to each end with a set of rack teeth in meshwithfa respective gear segment 78, each of which 'is figied to avertical rock shaft 7 9 that is suitably journaled in bearings on theframe side. The upper end of each rock shaft 79 is provided with a yokeor cross-head 80, which at its opposite ends engages the adjacent endsof a pair of vibrating inking rolls 81 to impart opposed longitudinalreciprocatory or vibrating movements to said rolls when the shaft 79 isrocked (Figs. 4 and 10).

The operation of my press is as follows: The main drive shaft 4 whendriven imparts continuous rotation to the loose gear 21 from the drivepinion 7, and imparts continuous rotation to the pinions 8 and 10 fromthe broad drive pinion 6, which is in mesh with the gear 8. The cylinder3 is also continuously driven at uniform speed with the gear 21 due tothe meshing of said gear with the cylinder gear 62 of like size. Thereverse crank gear 24 is driven direct from the drive shaft 4 throughthe medium of the pinion 23, which pinion, in the present instance, has

that the bed-reverse rack segment 33 is justleaving the shortbed-reverse rack at the forward end of the bedand the broad pinion 11 isin position to mesh with both gears 21 and 22, and just entering intomesh with the teeth of the gear22 at the then leaving end of its gap, sothat the two gears 21 and 22 are tied together and-caused to rotate inunison and to effect a driving of the bed and cylinder at uniform speedsand in synchronism. When the gears 21 and 22 are thus coupled togetherthe drive of the bed is through the shaft 13, gears 14 and 'racks 15 onthe bed. This relation of the bed and,

cylinder drive parts is maintained until the bed has moved to near thelimit of its im pression stroke and the bed reverse segment 33 has movedinto mesh with the forward end of'the rear reverse rack 34 (Fig. 15). Atthis point the coupling pinion 11 enters the gap of the gear 22, thusdisconnecting the gears 21 and 22. When said gears are thus disconnectedthe drive of the bed is no longer through the shaft 13, pinions 14 andbed racks 15, as the gear 21, which isnow the driven gear, is free toturn loosely on said shaft, but the drive of the bed is through thereversing mechanism and is controlled by the crank gear 24. Whenthereversing segment :33'takes into the rear reverse rack 34 the acrank pinis at the lower end of its throw" (Fig. 15) and the slowing down,reversing and speeding up of the bed to running speed accomplished whilethe crank pin is moving'from the lower to the uppermost limit of itsstroke (Fig. 16). During the reversing period the gears 21 and 22 arepermitted to have relative rotary movements due to the coupling pinionl1 entering the gap of the gear 22, and said pinion, together with thepinions 8 and 10, are then shifted to the left (Fig. 18) to shift thepinion 11 from the pinion 10 into register with the gear 22. It will beunderstood that the pinion 10 is driven in a reverse direction to thepinion 11 due to the connection of the former with the drive pinion 6and that the gear 22, during its idle movement or while disconnectedfrom the gear 21, is driven from the bed in synchronism therewiththrough the racks 15, gears 14 and shaft 13. It is thus evident that thegear 22, during the rearward or return strokeof the bed 2. is revolvingin a reverse direction to that of the gear 21. \Vhen the movement of thebed at the end of its impression stroke has been reversed and thesegment 33 is about to leave the rear reverse rack 34, the gear 22 hasturned in a reverse direction relative to the gear 21a suflicientdistance for the teeth at the then leaving end of the gap to take intothe pinion 10, so that the rearward stroke is "then imparted to the bedfrom the main shaft 4 through the pinions 6, 8, 10, gear 22, shaft 13'and pinions and racks 14, 15 (Fig. 17). It is evident that when the bedis near the end of its rearward stroke the reverse segment 33 takes intothe reverse rack 34 at the forward end of the bed at ap proximately thetime that the pinion 10 enters the gap of the gear 22. During thereversing of the movement of the bed by the reversing segment the gear22 has its direction of rotation reversed to again move in unison withthe gear-21 and. the pinions 8, 10 and 11 are shifted to the right (Fig.18) to shift the pinion 10 out of and the coupling pinion 11 intoregister with the gear 22, so that when the end of the gap in the '2gear 22 in the reverse rotation thereof is reached the coupling pinion11. will mesh with the teeth of said gear and cause it to be driven insynchronism with the gear 21.

During each impression stroke of the bed the cylinder 3 is lowered toimpression po-. sition by reason of the roller 58' on the rocker arm 57(Figs. 2 and 3) then traveling in the outer neutral portion of thecam-way 59, thus causing the rocker arm 57 to effecta depression of therocker arms 55 through the medium of the catch 64 which is in engagementwith the" catch lug '65 on one of said arms 55 The'depression of thearms 55 communicates a downward rocking movement to the rocker arms 53(Figs. 1, 8, 9 and 10) and a consequent rocking of the shafts 48 tomove'the knuckles 49 to vertical or cylinder depressing position, asshown in. Figs. 1 and 8. After the impression' stroke, the roller 58moves to the radially restricted portion of the camway 59 and permits araising operative position. hould it be desired to prevent an impressiontaking place at any cycle of operations, the operator depresses wardinto position to be engaged by thecam-plate 71 at a predetermined pointin its revolution. The engagement of said roller by the cam-plate causesan outward swinging of the catch 64 from stud engaging position, so thata'rocking movement of. the rocker arm 57 will not be communicated to therocker arms 55. Thecylinder will continue to missimpressions so long asthe foot pedal 66 remains depressed.-

It will be seen that the gears 14 and bed racks 15 remain constantly inmesh and perform an important office during the period of reversal ofthe bed, as they then act to drive of the cylinder to inthe gear 22while it is out of mesh with gears 11 or 10; and to slow down this gear22 with the bed, and reverse its direction of rotation and speed it up,to an equal speed of rotation with the gear 21, and in the properdirection of rotation to be engaged by and meshed with either the gear11 or the gear 10. Thus the bed will be driven during the uniformportion of its stroke by the gear 22 operating shaft 13 and driving thegears 14 meshing the racks 15 and the direction of the rotation of theshaft 13 is reversed, during the reversals of the bed, by reason of thecontinuous mesh of the gears 14 with the bed racks 15. V

I wish it understood that my invention is not limited to any specificarrangement, construction'or 'form of the parts, as thepresentembodiment thereof is merely illustrative of the invention andcapable of numerous modifications and changes without departing from thespirit bf 'the'claims.

thereto at the reversing points in its movements, and a reversingmechanism embody- .ing a revolving crank, a rack reciprocally vmovableby said crank, and a lever having at one end a segment in mesh with saidlast rack and at its other end a segment which meshes with one or theother of said reverse racks to. communicate a reversing movement to thebed at the end of each stroke thereof. I

2. A combination as called for in claim 1, wherein the arms of saidlever and the throw of said crank are each different in length. e

3. A combination as called for in claim 1, wherein the arm of said leverengaging said reversing mechanism rack is longer than the other arm ofthelever, and thethrow of long arm and greater than the length ofsaid-short arm of the lever. the foot pedal 66 from the position shownin 4. In combination, a reciprocating bed,

means for imparting forward and backward strokes-at uniform speeds tosaid bed and idling with respect-to the bed during each reversal of thedirection of-movement thereof, .means forengaging and reversing themovement of said bed adjacent to the end of each stroke and idling withrespect to the bed during the major portion of each stroke,

apart of said bed means being in continuous driving connection with thebed and a part of saidbed driving means acting as a (11'1"8 for thereversing means.

5. In combination, a reciprocating bed having a reverse rack at each endand amain driving rack, bed driving means having a portion continuallyengaging said main rack, said means idling with respect to the bedduring the reversing movements thereof, and means for engaging one ofsaid reverse racks and reversing the movement of the bed adjacent'to theend of each stroke and idling With respect to the bed during the maindriving thereof.

6. In combination, a reciprocable bed having a reverse rack at each end,means for driving said bed and idling with respect thereto at thereversing points in its movements, and a reversing mechanism having areciprocably movable member and an element for connecting said memberwith one or the other of said bed reverse racks to communicate areversing movement to the bed at the end of each stroke, the movementsof said member during a bed reversing period being reverse to themovements of the bed whereby the reversing mechanism has acounter-balancing action to the bed during a reversing thereof.

7. In combination, a reciprocable bed having a reversing rackat eachend, means for driving said bed and idling with respect thereto at thereversing points in its movements, and a reversing mechanism embody inga rack, means for reciprocating the rack, and a lever having at one enda segment in mesh with said last rack and at its other end a segmentwhich meshes with one or the other of said bed reverse racks tocommunicate a reversing movement to the bed at the end of-each strokethereof, the direction of movement of the mechanism rack being reverseto the movements of the bed during each reversing period.

8. In combination, a reciprocable mem her having a reverse rack at eachend, means for driving said member and idling with respect thereto atthe reversing points in its movement, and a reversing mechanismembodying a reciprocably movable rack and .a lever having one end inengagement with and rocked by movements of said rack and having at itsother end a gear segment which meshes with one or the other of saidmember reverse racks at the end of each member stroke to reverse themovement of the member. I

9. A combination as called for in claim 8, wherein the arms of saidlever are of different lengths.

10. In combination, a reciprocable mem ber, means for moving said memberat uniform speed during part of both forward and backwardstrokesthereof, said means idling with respect to the member during eachreversal of the direction of movement thereof; said means including apart in continued engagement with said member; means including a partfor engaging and reversing the movement of said member at the end of theuniform part of each stroke and idling with'respect to the member duringthe uniform portion of each stroke, the said means for movingthememberuniformly andthe rotatable means to operate in unison there-With and when so connected imparting a uniform movement to said memberduring the forward and backward stroke thereof; and reversing means forconnecting said primary driving means and said member at the end of theuniform part of each stroke ofsaid memher to reverse the movement ofsaid member; the connection between said member moving means and theprimary driving means being disconnected during the reversing movementsof the member; and the connection between said reversing means and saidmember being disconnected during the uniform parts of the stroke of saidmember substantially as described.

12. In combination, a reciprocable member, reverse racks at opposite endportions of said member, a main drive means, means driven by said maindrive means and operable to engage one or the other of said racks atpredetermined points in a movement of the member and to impart areversing movement thereto, a rotatable element continu ously driven atuniform speed by said dri e means, and mechanism automatically operableto connect said element and member and impart one stroke from the formerto the latter and to connect said main drive means and member toimpart'the return stroke to the member.

13. In combination, a re'ciprocable member, a-main drive means, meansdriven by said main drive means and operable to engage said member atthe end of each stroke and impart a reversing movement thereto, arotatable element continuously driven in one direction by said drivemeans, and means permanently connected with the member and operable toconnect with and be driven by said element during one stroke of themember and to disconnect said element and connect with and be driven bysaid main drive means during the next stroke of the member.

14. In combination, a reciprocable memher, a main drive means, reversingmeans driven by said main drive means and operable to engage said memberat the end of each stroke and impart a reversing movement thereto, arotatable element continuously driven in one direction by said drivemeans, means having permanent rack and pinion connectionwith said memberand opment and connect with and be drivenby said" main drive meansduring the return stroke of the member, said member driving means beingreleased from both said element and main drive means during thereversing movements of the member.

15. In combination, a reciprocable meme ber, a mam drive'shaft, meansdrlvenby' said shaft and operable to engage and impart a reversingmovement to said member at the end of each stroke thereof, a rotatableelement continuously driven by said shaft,

mechanism having a rotatable shaft in rack with respect to both saidelement and main,

' shaft during each reversing movement of said member.

16. In combination, a reciprocable member, a'main, drive means,reversing means continuously driven by said main drive means andoperable to engage and reverse the movement ofsaid member at the end ofeach stroke thereof, a rotatable element continuously driven at uniformspeed by said drive means, a driven shaft, rack and pinion connectionbetween said shaft and member,

and mechanism automatically operable to.

connect said shaft and element during one stroke of said member and torelease said element and connect said shaft and main drive means todrive the shaft in a reverse direction and impart a return stroke tosaid member, said mechanism having a part which'is released fromboth'said element and main,

drive means during each reversing movement of the member to permit anidling of said shaft. v

17. In combinatlon, a reciprocable member, a main drive means, meansdriven bysaid main drive means and operable to engage and reverse themovement of the member at the end of each stroke thereof, a rotaagap-gear fixed to said shaft and automatically operable to connect saidelement and gear to drive said shaft during one stroke of the member andto disconnect said element and gear and connect the main drive means andgear to impart the returnstroke to said.

member, said mechanism operating in the gear gap durmg each reversingmovement of said member, whereby said shaft idles during,

such reversing movements.

18. In combination, a reciprocable member, a main drive shaft, reversingmeans driven by said shaft and operable to engage and impart a reversingmovement to said member at the end of each stroke thereof, a drivenshaft, connection between said driven shaft and member for impartingreciprocation to one from a rotation of the other, a rotatable elementcontinuously driven by said main shaft, and normally loose with respectto said driven shaft, a gap-gear fixed to said driven shaft, and meansembodying a plurality'of gears which are driven by said main shaft andautomatically operable to connect and impart rotation to the gap-gearfrom said element during one stroke of the member and to connect saidmain shaft and gap-gear to drive the latter during the other stroke ofthe member, said driven shaft running idle during the reversingmovements of said member due to the gap in the gap-gear.

19. In combination, a reciprocating bed and a main driving meanstherefor embodying a driven shaft,-continuous rack and pinion connectionbetween said bed and shaft, a loose gear and a fixed gap-gear on saidshaft, a drive shaft continuously rotating in one direction, a directdrive pinion and a main re-' 'driveshaft for rotary and axial shiftingmovements, said coupling pinion being in constant mesh with said loosegear andshiftable into and out of coupling connection with both saidloose and gap-gears, andsaid secondary reverse pinion being in "constantdriving connection with said main reverse pinion and shiftable intomeshing register with said gap-gear when the coupling pinion is shiftedfrom register therewith, and vice versa, means for periodically shiftingsaid axially movable pinions in one direction at one revolution of thegap-gear and in the op posite direction at the succeeding IGTOIHEIOHthereof whenits gap is in register therewith, and means for reversingthe direction of movement of the bed during'the shifting period of saidaxially movable pinions.

20. A combination as called for in claim 19, together with means forcontinuously driving said reversing means from said drive shaft. y

21. In combination, a reciprocating bed; a rack connected therewith; agear meshing said rack; an oscillatory shaft carrying said gear; meansfor driving said shaft in one direction during the forward stroke of thebed; means for driving said shaft in the opposite direction during thereturn stroke of the bed; said. driving means disengaging the shaftduring the reversals of the bed;

with means for reversing the bed at the ends of its strokes and whilethe shaft driving means is disconnected therefrom, said means operatingthrough the said bed rack and gears to control the movements of theoscillatory shaft during the reversals of the bed.

22. In combination, a reciprocating bed; a rack connected therewith; agear meshing said rack; an oscillatory shaft carrying said gear; a gapgear on the said shaft; oppositely rotatable driven gears adapted to bealternately engaged with the said gap gear to drive the latter and theshaft in opposite directions; both said'gears being disengaged from thegap gear during the period of reversals of the bed; with means forreversing the bed at the ends of its strokes and while the said drivengears are disengaged from the gap gear; said reversing means operatingthrough the said rack and gear to control the movements of the saidshaft and gap gear during the reversals of the bed;

23. In combination, a reciprocating bed; a pair of racks connectedtherewith at opposite sides of the longitudinal center of the bed; apair of gears meshing saidracks; an oscillatory shaft carrying saidgears means for rotating said shaft in one direction during the forwardstroke of the bed; means for driving said shaft in the oppositedirection during the' return stroke .of the bed; said driving meansdisengaging the shaft during the reversals of the bed with means forreversing the bedat the ,ends of its strokes and while the shaft drivingmeans is disconnectedtherefrom, said means op erating through the racksand gears to control the movements of the oscillatory shaft during thereversals of the bed.

24. In combination, a reciprocating bed; a pair of racks connectedtherewith at opposite sides of the longitudinal center of the bed; apair of gears meshing said racks; an oscillatory shaft carrying saidgears; a gap gear on the said shaft; oppositely rotatable driven gearsadapted to be alternately engaged with the said gap gear to drive thelatter and the shaft in opposite directions; both said gears beingdisengaged from the gap gear during the period of its reversal;with'means for reversing the bed at the ends of its strokes and whilethe said driven gears are disconnected from the gap gear, said reversingmeans operating through the said racks and gears to control themovements of the said shaft and gap gear during the reversals of thebed.

25. In combination, a reciprocating bed; a rack connected therewith; agear meshing said rack; an oscillatoryshaft carrying said gear; meansfor rotating said shaft in one direction during the forward stroke ofthe bed; and means fordriving said shaft in the opposite directionduring the return stroke of the bed; said means disengaging the shaftduring the reversal movements of the bed; with means for reversing thebed at the ends of its strokes, comprising a reverse rack at each end ofthe bed; a reciprocatory rack bar; a toothed member engaged with saidrack and having a portion adapted to alternately mesh with one or theother of the reverse racks at the end of a stroke of the bed; and meansfor actuating r the said shaft and bring it up tothe proper speed,substantially as described. v

26. In combination, a reciprocating bed; a rack connected therewith; agear meshing said rack; an oscillatory shaft carrying said gear; a gapgear on the said shaft; oppositely rotatably driven gears adapted to bealternately engaged with the said gap gear to drive the latter and theshaft in opposite directions, both said gears being disengaged from thegap gear during the period ofreversal; with means for reversing the bedat the ends of its strokes, comprising a reverse rack at each end of thebed; a reciprocatory rack bar, a'toothedmember engage d with said'barand having a portion adapted to alternately mesh with one or the otherof the reverse racks at the end ;of a stroke of the bed; and means foractuating said rack to cause the reverse means to take control of andreverse the bed while the said driven gears are disconnected from thegap gear; the said bed rack and gear remaining constantly in meshandserving while the reversing mechanism controls the bed to reverse thedirection of rotation of the said shaft and gap gear and bring it up tospeed, substantially as described.

27. In combination, a reciprocating bed; a pair of racks connectedtherewith at opposite sides of the longitudinal center of the bed; apair of gears meshing said racks; an oscillatory shaft carrying saidgears; means for rotating said shaft in one direc tion during theforward stroke of the bed;

' of its strokes comprising a reverse rack at each end of the bed; areciprocatory rack bar, a toothed member engaged with said rack bar andhaving a portion adapted to alternately mesh with one or the other of.the reverse racks at the end of a stroke of the bed; and means foractuating said rack bar to cause the reverse means to take control ofand reverse the bed while thesaid shaft driving means are disengagedtherefrom; the said bed racks and gears remaining constantly in mesh andserving while the reversing mechanism controls the bed to reverse thedirection of rotation of the said shaft and bring it up to the properspeed, substantially as described.

28. I11 combination, a reciprocating bed; a pair of racks connectedtherewith at opposite sides of the longitudinal center of the bed; apair of gears meshing said racks; an oscillatory shaft carrying saidgears; a gap gear on the said shaft; oppositely rotatably driven gearsadapted to be alternately engaged with the said gap gear to drive thelatter and the shaft in opposite directions, both said gears beingdisengaged from the shaft during the period of its reversal; with meansfor reversing the bed at the ends of its strokes comprising a reverserack at each end of the bed; areciprocatory rack bar. a toothed memberengaged with said rack bar and having a portion adapted to alternatelymesh with one or the other of the reverse racks at the end of a strokeof the bed. and means for actuating said rack to cause the reverse meansto take control of and reverse the bed while the said shaft drivingmeans is disengaged therefrom, the said bed racks and gears remainingconstantly in mesh and serving while the reversing mechanism controlsthe bed to reverse the direction of rotation of the said shaft and gapgear and bring it up to proper speed, substantially as described.

29. In combination, a; reciprocatoryslide having a slot, a crank. pinengaging said engaging said slot to reciprocate the 'slide;

a shaft mounted on said slide parallel with .the slot; pinions on saidshaft adjacent opposite ends of the slot, and fixed rack bars meshingwith said pinions, whereby twisting or tilting of the slide due to thelateral pressure of the crank pin thereon is prevented.

31. In combination, a reoiprocable member, means for moving said memberat u11iform speed during part of both forward and backward strokesthereof and idling with respect to the member during each reversal ofthe direction of movement thereof; said means including an oscillatingpart in continual engagement with said member; means including anoscillating lever for engaging and reversing the movement of said memberat the end of the uniform part of each stroke and idling with respect tothe member during the uniform portion of each stroke, the said means formoving the mem her uniformly and the said reversing means beingindependent; and a common means for drivmg both said member moving meansand said member reversing means, snbstam tially as described.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name to thisspecification.

MICHAEL A. DROITCOUR.

